Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-03

CATTLE ON SHlPBOARD.
An Experienced Cattle Man Describes Bo-
vine Behavior on an Ocean Voyage.

An Experienced Cattle Man Describes Boz
vine Behavior an Ocean Voyage.
William Reilly is the foreman for one
New York city. He has made about fifty
trips across the ocean, taking from 100
to 200 head of cattle each trip.
I'VE are improving every day." he be-
gan. in answer 10 the reporters inquiry
as to how the expectation is carried on.
but nothing. he continued, Twill ever
BE- absolutely perfect until some one builds
a ship purposely for cattle expectation.
When we first began to export, we
were new in the business. and we had to
pay heavy for our experience. At that
time We used TO lower the animals into
the hold of the vessel in pens in which
they were packed so tight that they
couldn't move. 1t was impossible for
them to lie down, and if one managed to, it
could not get up again-but soon another
would drop from sheer exhaustion. and
then the scenes that would follow after
the pressure had been broken would defy
description Many in the pen would be
either trodden or kicked 20 death, others
have their limbs broken and have to be
killed.
Nowadays the system is more perfect
IN the hold Of the vessel In big freight
ships, whose holds are wide and pur-
pusely constructed for the traffic, We
build stalls running the whole length of
the ship.
when an animal Is lowered into the
hold Of ship il is led along the passage
way and backed into one Of the stalls,
which are made Of strong boards and
timber joints In this it is firmly bolted
In by door, The pen Is wide enough TO
allow the animal to lie down, but no
matter how heavy the sea it cannot be
thrown down, as it is strongly protected
both front and rear"
How do cattle act at seaf'
well, when first shipped, what with
the excitement of being lowered down
into the hold and then backed into the
stall and that is no easy job, | tell you
the animal is certainly more or less ex-
cited; but when say 200 get exclted-and
I've taken more than that at one trip
then it Is scene that is apt to try the
nerves Of a man. Cattle for expectation
are selected from the best stock, and are
therefore well fed and high mettled. For
that number Of cattle | generally have
about thirty msu with me, the ship
owners allowing 70 many to go free as
helpers 10 the other side. have the ami
mails beds made, their managers well
filled with the most tempting food and
plenty of water served them, We gener-
ally bring them aboard hungry. and they
began munching, and by the time we get
outside Sandy Hook they are like tired,
hungry person. exhausted by travel and
feeling satisfied and warm. They soon
lie down and fail asleep, We never start
with IA load of cattle in a storm, OF in .
heavy sea. for if we did the animals
would get 50 scared that even the
steadiest ship you'd feel the effect of
their tossing to and fro, and it would be
dangerous.
Everything Is kept quiet during the
night, only the Waterman being per-
m;tted TO stay in the hold where the
cattle are stalled. In the morning we
feed them again for it is important to
keep them well fed on the way out.
Then the ship has struck deep water,
and il there is heavy sea the ship rolls
considerably.
ut ) strange, but still true" said Mr..
helily' nut me Steer IS aiohe' 'he
least easily frightened amman you can
imagine nave seen lat cattie "ahe up
on their hfst morning out "heh the snip
was rolling heavily. They couldn't get
up SO they braced theif feet against ,ie
sides OF the stall ana iay thefe patiehtiy'
now ana tleh lowing anu ea'iiis 'iie
Ieed thrown theh is hatufhily DIS II '"es
were on iana'
N"t'e' continued MI heiiiy' "o
not get seaSick' ana ~ SOON as ties can
get on Their legs II Is curious sigh';
l'iry are tossed BACK ana forward ana
with theIr stamping make a terrible
racket ana they seem 10 iook az each
other a. II iiquifing "hat all that siiak-
ing sp ana down meant
III Is then that the cattle men work
begins. There are always some vicious
brutes among tiHin' ana II they are not
quickly sulhned there Would oe panic
The cattle men quickly but quietly go to
the vicious ones coax them at hrss' but
1t that fails throw them down. and, so to
speak put them In irons
1T attle soon get Their sea legs, ana as,